Ice conveyer

ABSTRACT

An ice making conveyer producing ice cubes in any size and form designed to be utilized in household or commercial units. This conveyer having three possible shapes: triangle shape of the ice making conveyer, square shape of ice making conveyer and oval or circular shape of the ice making conveyer. Conveyer might be utilized in three types of the refrigerators: where freezer is located on the top of food section of the refrigerator, where freezer is located side by side, no matter on the right or left side of the food section of the refrigerator, where freezer is located underneath the food section of the refrigerator. Present conveyer includes a plastic frame and conveyer device that traverse between freezer and food section of the refrigerator or inside of the freezer. This conveyer allows easy, inexpensive, safe, clean, and compact way of producing ice cubes in any size and form.

Priority claimed from Provisional Application U.S. 61/009,185 filed onDec. 26, 2007.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is generally relates to the field of ice cube makingmachines. In particular, it relates to an ice cube making conveyer thatincludes a plastic frame and conveyer device that traverse betweenfreezer and food section of the refrigerator or inside of the freezer.This ice making conveyer is designed to be utilized in household orcommercial units. This conveyer allows easy, inexpensive, safe, clean,and compact way of producing ice cubes in any size and form.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, an ice maker is installed in a refrigerator or a vendingmachine to make ice cubes out of water which is supplied to the icemaker.

Two common types of ice making machines exists: household units that arecombined with refrigerators, and commercial units that are used byrestaurants, bars, hospitals, hotels, and other establishments thatrequire large amounts of ice.

A problem faced by many ice cube makers is that of corrosion. Ice cubemaker housings are traditionally made of metal which eventually corrodesdue to water splashing about the interior of the machine when water isdripped onto the mold and when the cubes are released from the moldduring the harvesting operation, and also due to humidity that resultsfrom the continuous presence of liquid water in the machine. Internalcomponents of the ice cube maker exposed to the splashing water andhumidity also suffer from corrosion. Electronic components face theadditional hazard of short circuiting in this watery environment.

Another common problem icemakers face is the difficulty of servicing.Ideally, the refrigeration components and the control electronics shouldbe isolated from the splashing water and humidity of the ice maker yetstill allow easy access for repair.

Moreover, problem existing icemakers face is that of the metal particlesor powder inserted within the ice cubes. Ice cube maker housings aretraditionally made of metal and have plurality of rotating and rubbingparts which during ice making process result in constant milling andgrinding some of the metal particles and powder into the ice bin andeventually into the formed ice cubes itself.

Another existing icemakers' drawback is that the all parts, units andjunctions of the ice maker body are solidly jointed together. Due tosuch design a stoppage or even a breakage of the mechanism will occur inthe case of formation of the condensate or development of the ice.

Further, design of some of the existing icemakers does not provide anymethod of filling up ice forms with the water in two planes, whichrequires perfect level. Other designs have problem with the lower partof the conveyer, which has sagging of the conveyer which leads toinability of adequate contact of the heater with the conveyer.

Another common drawback existing in the current ice making machines isthat of the location of the transmission outside of the icemaker's frametherefore it must be located inside of the refrigerator's wall or in icebin.

It is therefore desirable to provide a mechanism for making an ice cubeswhich avoid these drawbacks of current ice making machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Present invention intended to be utilized for the ice cube makingconveyer, which includes a plastic frame and conveyer device thattraverse between freezer and food section of the refrigerator or insideof the freezer. This ice making conveyer is designed to be utilized inhousehold or commercial units. This conveyer allows easy, inexpensive,safe, clean, and compact way of producing ice cubes in any size andform.

Present invention of the ice making conveyer might be utilized inparticular types of the refrigerators where freezer is located on thetop of the food section of the refrigerator. Furthermore, presentinvention of the ice making conveyer might be utilized in particulartypes of refrigerators where freezer is located side by side, regardlessof the side—right or left side of food section of the refrigerator.Additionally, present invention of the ice making conveyer might beutilized in the particular types of the refrigerators where freezer islocated underneath of the food section of the refrigerator.

Conveyer of the present invention consists of form filled with the waterand which is traversing between freezer and food section of therefrigerator or inside of the freezer itself according to the enclosedphase of rotation. One phase of rotation consists of traversing of theform filled with the water has a starting point at the location wherewater is filling into the form through water filling tube and an endingpoint at the location of the ice discharge to the ice bin. Thentraversing of the form is continued from point at the location of theice discharge to the ice bin toward point at the location where water isfilling into the form through water filling tube.

Depending upon the type of the refrigerators where freezer is located onthe top of the food section of the refrigerator or where freezer islocated side by side, regardless of the side—right or left side of foodsection of the refrigerator or where freezer is located underneath ofthe food section of the refrigerator design of the conveyer will bediffer respectfully, however, the concept for all types of refrigeratorswill be the same.

Design of the ice cube making conveyer does not have united housing asit was in antecedent ice making devices. Present invention propose toput its design into effect in form of transporting tape made out ofplastic or polyethylene material. Where transporting tape traversingalong rotating or gliding rollers. Said rollers are driven by drivepulley with drive unit. Where drive pulley with drive unit attacheddirectly to the wall of the refrigerator and covered with the frame ofthe conveyer canal. Where the frame of the conveyer canal made out ofany plastic material. Such transporting tape may be located in anyconsumers' convenient place inside of the any type of refrigerator.

Location of the drive pulley with the drive unit of the ice makingconveyer does not have a particular location in the design of thepresent invention of the ice making conveyer because rotating of theconveyer could be realized in any point of the conveyer along the entirelength or entire periphery of the conveyer's transporting tape. Suchdesign of the conveyer and its drive pulley flexible location givesconsiderable opportunity in diversification and variety of the potentialdesign of the conveyer. Such design of the conveyer and its drive pulleyflexible location also gives more effective utilization of the volume ofthe refrigerator and allows easy, inexpensive, safe, clean, and compactway of producing ice cubes in any size and form.

Forms for the ice made out of rubber, plastic, or silicon situated onthe transporting tape and attached to each other or having shape ofunified tape made out of rubber, plastic, or silicon.

Discharge of the ice from the silicon form is realized by means offracture of the flexion of the silicon form, which does not requireheating of the form.

Conveyer of the present invention is situated inside of the cover frame,which is air ducks. Arrow showing entrance of the air from theevaporator coil and exit of the cold air into the ice bin. Cold airwhile exiting to the ice bin is cooling it at the same time. In the casewhere such cooling of the ice bin is not adequate then additionalventilation could be easily provided from the freezer.

Design of the drive pulley with the drive unit may be any existingdesign of the drive pulley unit which is capable of moving transportingtape made out of plastic or polyethylene material.

Present invention of the ice making conveyer offer to situate ice bininside of the food section of the refrigerator for the followingadvantages:

-   a. It is easy to achieve required temperature in the range of    24°-28° F. from the air coming from the form of the ice made out of    rubber, plastic, or silicon.-   b. Under temperature range of 24°-28° F. ice cubes appear to be    fresh and shining and do not absorb the smell or odor from the    refrigerator. Moreover, under temperature range of 24°-28° F. ice    cubes do not freeze together which occurring under lower temperature    range. Ice cubes produced under temperature range of 24°-28° F.    appear to be clear and not cloudy in the drink.

Proposed design of the present invention of the ice maker conveyerallows create ice cubes in various sizes and shapes in comparison to thecurrently available designs of the ice makers where ice cubes must be inparticular shape and size for certain types of refrigerators. Proposeddesign of the present invention of the ice maker conveyer allows refrainfrom currently common device “crash ice”, which responsible for thecrashing of the ice in order to discharge it from the ice makingconveyer and into the ice bin.

Operation of the ice making conveyer must be performed according to thesystem “timer” using 3-4 stages of the temperature sensor. Timer is adevice which is regulates continuance or duration of the cycle. Cycle isa time necessary for the freezing the ice in the form. For example: ifwe have three sensors which are regulate temperature at ranges 0°-5°-10°F., then timer will choose duration of the cycle 1-1.5-2 hrs.accordingly. When set time period is over, timer is switching on thedrive unit with the drive pulley. Required number of the cycles might beselected by means of using of the push button regulator type or opticalregulator of the level of the ice in the ice bin might be used. Presentinvention of ice making conveyer will produce a minimum of twenty piecesof ice cubed in any shape and size within one cycle. Where within twocycles of the present invention of ice making conveyer will produceforty pieces of ice cubes in any shape and size, which is constitute anentire day supply of the ice for the entire family.

Cycle is a time necessary for the freezing the ice in the form. Durationof the cycle and time necessary for freezing the ice depends on size ofthe ice and temperature in the freezer. Present invention of ice makingconveyer allows to use length of conveyer form for the ice as of itsentire length same as part of it. In case where only ¼ or ⅓ or ½ lengthof the transporting conveyer form is filled with water, then for onefull rotation phase we have 4 or 3 or 2 cycles accordingly. ⅓ of thelength of the conveyer's form might be used in case where conveyerhaving shape of a triangle. ¼ of the length of the conveyer's form mightbe used in case where conveyer having square shape. ½ of the length ofthe conveyer's form might be used in case where conveyer having circularor oval shape. Any other shape of the conveyer's form is possible.

Filling of the water into the form for the ice from the water fillingtube might be executed according to in the following designs:

-   a. In the case where utilized conveyer, having horizontal    transporting tape, the water further filling in the form for the ice    through the recessions in the form for ice.-   b. In the case where utilized conveyer having inclined transporting    tape, the water further filling in the recessions of the form for    ice using the gravity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND THE BEST MODE

Present invention intended to be utilized for the ice cube makingconveyer 15, FIG. 4-6, which includes a plastic frame 5 and conveyerdevice that traverse between freezer 11, FIG. 1-3, and food section ofthe refrigerator 12, FIG. 1-3, or inside of the freezer. This ice makingconveyer 15, FIG. 1-3, is designed to be utilized in household orcommercial units. This conveyer allows easy, inexpensive, safe, clean,and compact way of producing ice cubes in any size and form.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodimentof the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, FIG. 1 through 3, wherein like reference numeralsrefer to the elements throughout.

The embodiment of the device 15 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 9includes:

Embodiment of present invention of the ice making conveyer 15 might beutilized in particular types of the refrigerators where freezer 11 islocated on the top of the food section of the refrigerator 12, FIG. 1.Furthermore, present invention of the ice making conveyer 15 might beutilized in particular types of refrigerators where freezer 11 islocated side by side, regardless of the side—right or left side of foodsection of the refrigerator 12, FIG, 2. Additionally, embodiment ofpresent invention of the ice making conveyer 15 might be utilized in theparticular types of the refrigerators where freezer 11 is locatedunderneath of the food section of the refrigerator 12, FIG. 3.

Conveyer 15, FIG. 4-6, of the present invention consists of form 2, FIG.4-6, filled with the water and which is traversing between freezer 11,FIG. 1-3, and food section of the refrigerator 12, FIG. 1-3, or insideof the freezer itself according to the enclosed phase of rotation. Onephase of rotation consists of traversing of the form 2 filled with thewater has a starting point at the location where water is filling intothe form through water filling tube 7 and an ending point at thelocation of the ice discharge to the ice bin 6. Then traversing of theform 2 is continued from point at the location of the ice discharge tothe ice bin 6 toward point at the location where water is filling intothe form through water filling tube 7.

Depending upon the type of the refrigerators where freezer 11 is locatedon the top of the food section of the refrigerator 12, FIG. 1, or wherefreezer 11 is located side by side, regardless of the side—right or leftside of food section of the refrigerator 12, FIG, 2, or where freezer 11is located underneath of the food section of the refrigerator 12, FIG. 3design of the conveyer 15 will be different (see FIG. 4-6), however theconcept for all types of refrigerators will be the same.

Design of the ice cube making conveyer 15, FIG. 4-6 does not have unitedhousing as it was in antecedent ice making devices. Present inventionpropose to put its design into effect in form of transporting tape 1made out of plastic or polyethylene material. Where transporting tape 1traversing along rotating or gliding rollers 3. Said rollers 3 aredriven by drive pulley with drive unit 4. Where drive pulley with driveunit 4 is attached directly to the wall of the refrigerator and coveredwith the frame of the conveyer canal 5. Where the frame of the conveyercanal 5 made out of any plastic material. Such transporting tape 1 maybe located in any consumers' convenient place inside of the any type ofrefrigerator.

Location of the drive pulley with the drive unit 4, FIG. 4-6, of the icemaking conveyer 15 does not have a particular location in the design ofthe present invention of the ice making conveyer because rotating of theconveyer 15 could be realized in any point of the conveyer along theentire length or entire periphery of the conveyer's transporting tape 1.Such design of the conveyer and its drive pulley flexible location givesconsiderable opportunity in diversification and variety of the potentialdesign of the conveyer. Such design of the conveyer and its drive pulleyflexible location also gives more effective utilization of the volume ofthe refrigerator and allows easy, inexpensive, safe, clean, and compactway of producing ice cubes in any size and form.

Forms for the ice 2, FIG. 4-6, made out of rubber, plastic, or siliconsituated on the transporting tape 1 and attached to each other or havingshape of unified tape made out of rubber, plastic, or silicon.

Discharge of the ice 9, FIG. 4-6, from the silicon form 2 is realized bymeans of fracture of the flexion of the silicon form 10, which does notrequire heating of the form.

Conveyer 15, FIG. 4-6, of the present invention is situated inside ofthe cover frame 5, which is air ducks. Arrow 8 showing entrance of theair from the evaporator coil and exit of the cold air into the ice bin6. Cold air while exiting to the ice bin 6 is cooling it at the sametime. In the case where such cooling of the ice bin 6 is not adequatethen additional ventilation could be easily provided from the freezer11, FIG. 1-3.

Design of the drive pulley with the drive unit 4, FIG. 4-6, may be anyexisting design of the drive pulley unit which is capable of movingtransporting tape 1 made out of plastic or polyethylene material.

Present invention of the ice making conveyer offer to situate ice bin 6,FIG. 4-6, inside of the food section of the refrigerator for thefollowing advantages:

-   a. It is easy to achieve required temperature in the range of    24°-28° F. from the air coming from the form of the ice 2, FIG. 4-6,    made out of rubber, plastic, or silicon.-   b. Under temperature range of 24°-28° F. ice cubes appear to be    fresh and shining and do not absorb the smell or odor from the    refrigerator. Moreover, under temperature range of 24°-28° F. ice    cubes do not freeze together which occurring under lower temperature    range. Ice cubes produced under temperature range of 24°-28° F.    appear to be clear and not cloudy in the drink.

Proposed design of the present invention of the ice maker conveyer 15,FIG. 4-6, allows create ice cubes in various sizes and shapes incomparison to the currently available designs of the ice makers whereice cubes must be in particular shape and size for certain types ofrefrigerators. Proposed design of the present invention of the ice makerconveyer 15 allows refrain from currently common device “crash ice”,which responsible for the crashing of the ice in order to discharge itfrom the ice making conveyer and into the ice bin.

Operation of the ice making conveyer 15, FIG. 4-6, must be performedaccording to the system “timer” using 3-4 stages of the temperaturesensor. Timer is a device which is regulates continuance or duration ofthe cycle. Cycle is a time necessary for the freezing the ice in theform 2, FIG. 4-6. For example: if we have three sensors which areregulate temperature at ranges 0°-5°-10° F., then timer will chooseduration of the cycle 1-1.5-2 hrs. accordingly. When set time period isover timer is switching drive unit with the drive pulley on, 4, FIG.4-6. Required number of the cycles might be selected by means of usingof the push button regulator type or optical regulator of the level ofthe ice in the ice bin might be used. Present invention of ice makingconveyer 15 will produce a minimum of twenty pieces of ice cubed in anyshape and size within one cycle. Where within two cycles of the presentinvention of ice making conveyer 15 will produce forty pieces of icecubes in any shape and size, which is constitute an entire day supply ofthe ice for the entire family.

Cycle is a time necessary for the freezing the ice in the form 2, FIG.4-6. Duration of the cycle and time necessary for freezing the icedepends on size of the ice and temperature in the freezer. Presentinvention of ice making conveyer allows to use length of conveyer formfor the ice 2, FIG. 4-6 as of its entire length same as part of it. Incase where only ¼ or ⅓ or ½ length of the transporting conveyer form 2is filled with water, then for one full rotation phase we have 4 or 3 or2 cycles accordingly. ⅓ of the length of the conveyer's form might beused in case where conveyer having shape of a triangle (see FIG. 9A). ¼of the length of the conveyer's form might be used in case whereconveyer having square shape (see FIG. 9B). ½ of the length of theconveyer's form might be used in case where conveyer having circular oroval shape (see FIG. 9C). Any other shape of the conveyer's form ispossible.

Filling of the water into the form for the ice 2, FIG. 4-6, from thewater filling tube 7 might be executed according to in the followingdesigns:

-   a. In the case where utilized conveyer 15, FIG. 4-6, having    horizontal transporting tape 1, the water further filling in the    form for the ice 2 through the recessions in the form for ice 2.-   b. In the case where utilized conveyer having inclined transporting    tape 1, FIG. 4-6, the water further filling in the recessions of the    form for ice 2 using the gravity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 depicts embodiment of present invention of the ice makingconveyer 15 which might be utilized in the particular types of therefrigerators where freezer 11 is located on the top of food section ofthe refrigerator 12.

FIG. 2 depicts embodiment of present invention of the ice makingconveyer 15 which might be utilized in the particular types of therefrigerators where freezer 11 is located side by side, no matter on theright or left side of the food section of the refrigerator 12.

FIG. 3 depicts embodiment of present invention of the ice makingconveyer 15 which might be utilized in the particular types of therefrigerators where freezer 11 is located underneath the food section ofthe refrigerator 12.

FIG. 4 depicts embodiment of the present invention of the ice makingconveyer 15 where ice making conveyer is utilized in particular types ofthe refrigerators where freezer 11 is located on the top of the foodsection of the refrigerator 12. 1—transporting tape made out of plasticor polyethylene material; 2—forms for the ice made out of rubber,plastic, or silicon; 3—rotating or gliding driven rollers; 4—drivepulley with the drive unit; 5—frame of the conveyer canal—air ducks madeout of any plastic material; 6—ice bin; 7—water filling tube;8—direction of the air movement; 9—ice; 10—location of the flexion ofthe silicon form and discharge of the ice.

FIG. 5 depicts embodiment of present invention of the ice makingconveyer 15, which might be utilized in the particular types of therefrigerators where freezer 11 is located side by side, no matter on theright or left side of the food section of the refrigerator 12.1—transporting tape made out of plastic or polyethylene material;2—forms for the ice made out of rubber, plastic, or silicon; 3—rotatingor gliding driven rollers; 4—drive pulley with the drive unit; 5—frameof the conveyer canal—air ducks made out of any plastic material; 6—icebin; 7—water filling tube; 8—direction of the air movement; 9—ice;10—location of the flexion of the silicon form and discharge of the ice.

FIG. 6 depicts embodiment of present invention of the ice makingconveyer 15 which might be utilized in the particular types of therefrigerators where freezer 11 is located underneath of the food sectionof the refrigerator 12. 1—transporting tape made out of plastic orpolyethylene material; 2—forms for the ice made out of rubber, plastic,or silicon; 3—rotating or gliding driven rollers; 4—drive pulley withthe drive unit; 5—frame of the conveyer canal—air ducks made out of anyplastic material; 6—ice bin; 7—water filling tube; 8—direction of theair movement; 9—ice; 10—location of the flexion of the silicon form anddischarge of the ice.

FIG. 7 depicts embodiment of present invention of the ice makingconveyer 15 which might be utilized in all three types of therefrigerators. A—Where freezer 11 is located on the top of the foodsection of the refrigerator 12. B—Where freezer 11 is located side byside, no matter on the right or left side of the food section of therefrigerator 12. C—Where freezer 11 is located underneath of the foodsection of the refrigerator 12.

FIG. 8 depicts embodiment of present invention of the ice makingconveyer 15 which might be utilized in all three types of therefrigerators. A—Where freezer 11 is located on the top of the foodsection of the refrigerator 12. B—Where freezer 11 is located side byside, no matter on the right or left side of the food section of therefrigerator 12. C—Where freezer 11 is located underneath of the foodsection of the refrigerator 12.

FIG. 9 depicts three of the possible designs of the ice making conveyershapes: A—triangle shape of the ice making conveyer; B—square shape ofice making conveyer; C—oval or circular shape of the ice makingconveyer.

1: An ice making conveyer traversing between freezer and food section ofthe refrigerator or inside of the freezer compartment of therefrigerator comprising of: transporting tape made out of plastic orpolyethylene material; where transporting tape traversing along rotatingor gliding rollers; forms filled with the water for the ice, made out ofrubber, plastic, or silicon, having situated on the transporting tapeand attached to each other or having shape of unified tape; rotating orgliding driven rollers; said rollers are driven by drive pulley withdrive unit; drive pulley with the drive unit; where drive pulley withdrive unit attached directly to the wall of the refrigerator and coveredwith the frame of the conveyer canal; frame of the conveyer canal—airducks made out of any plastic material; ice bin; water filling tube;discharger of the ice, where discharge of the ice from the silicon formis realized by means of fracture of the flexion of the silicon form,without heating of the form; where such conveyer having three proposedshapes: triangle shape of the ice making conveyer; square shape of icemaking conveyer; oval or circular shape of the ice making conveyer;where such conveyer might be utilized in three currently available typesof the refrigerators: where freezer is located on the top of foodsection of the refrigerator; where freezer is located side by side withthe food section, regardless of the right or left side; where freezer islocated underneath the food section of the refrigerator. 2: ice makingconveyer according to claim 1, wherein one phase of rotation consists oftraversing of the form filled with the water, having a starting point atthe location where water is filling into the form through water fillingtube and an ending point at the location of the ice discharge to the icebin; then traversing of the form is continued from an ending point atthe location of the ice discharge to the ice bin toward a starting pointat the location where water is filling into the form through waterfilling tube. 3: ice making conveyer according to claim 1, whereinfilling of the water into the form for the ice from the water fillingtube in the case where utilized conveyer, having horizontal transportingtape, the water further filling in the form for the ice through therecessions in the form for ice. 4: ice making conveyer according toclaim 1, wherein filling of the water into the form for the ice from thewater filling tube in the case where utilized conveyer having inclinedtransporting tape, the water further filling in the recessions of theform for ice using the gravity.